The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed a no-case submission filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and ordered him to open his defence in the terrorism charges brought against him by the Federal Government.

Delivering the ruling, Justice James Omotosho held that a prima facie case had been established against Kanu, noting that it was in his best interest to address the issues raised. The court upheld the arguments of the prosecution, led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, who insisted that Kanu had a case to answer.

Kanu’s counsel, Chief Godwin Kanu Agabi, SAN, had argued that the government failed to present any witness who testified to being incited to violence by his client, stressing that the five DSS operatives who appeared in court only admitted to obtaining statements from Kanu.

Meanwhile, Kanu’s health condition also came under focus during Friday’s proceedings. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) confirmed it has set up a seven-member panel of medical experts to independently evaluate his state of health, following conflicting reports between the DSS medical team and Kanu’s private consultants.

Kanu’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, urged the court to order his transfer to the National Hospital, Abuja, relying on a medical report by Professor Martin Aghaji, a retired professor of medicine, who warned that Kanu’s condition was deteriorating and required urgent specialist care.

The application was opposed by the DSS, with Awomolo describing Professor Aghaji’s findings as exaggerated and alleging that he unilaterally altered Kanu’s medication. He maintained that Kanu’s health complaints were not unusual and could be managed at the DSS facility.

Justice Omotosho subsequently stood down proceedings to prepare a ruling on whether Kanu should be referred to the National Hospital, pending the outcome of the NMA panel’s report.

The court is expected to reconvene next week as Kanu opens his defence in the terrorism trial while awaiting the independent medical findings.

Follow BONA NAIJA for more